Connection Technology Center, Inc.

590 Fishers Station Drive

Victor, New York 14564
Toll Free: (800) 999-5290
Phone: (585) 924-5900
Fax: (585) 924-4680

2 Wire 4-20mA Sensor and 4 Wire Transmitter Application Note

2 Wire 4-20mA Sensors
2 Wire Loop Power sensors from CTC require
only 2 connections, a +18 to 30 Volt Power lead
and a DC common (negative) lead. The sensor
regulates the loop so that the current is
proportional to the vibration parameter being
measured.

PLC Input Module or

Process Controller

Loop Powered Sensor +V

+ Power
+ GND
Supply

Measurement
Electronics
4-20 mA
Input 1

Figure 1

The sensors can be wired directly into analog Loop Power Output
input modules on PLC’s or Process Controllers
0.6
that accept 4 – 20 mA signals. The sensor must
Velocity (inches/second peak)

Alarm
be connected to a power source at the positive 0.5
Alert
lead and the common (negative) lead will be 0.4

connected to the Controller’s Analog Input. The 0.3

power supply is used to complete the loop 0.2
through the Controllers Ground. See figure 1. 0.1

0
Figure 2 shows an example of a Loop Powered 0:00:00 12:00:00 24:00:00 36:00:00 48:00:00 60:00:00
Sensor’s Output vs. Time. Time (hours)

Figure 2
4 Wire 4-20 mA Transmitters Continuous 4-20 mA Output

CTC’s Vibration Transmitters constitute a more 0.6

V e lo c ity (in c h e s /s e c o n d p e a k )
versatile approach to continuous monitoring 0.5

0.4
than the standard Loop powered sensors. The 0.3
transmitters are capable of wider frequency and 0.2
amplitude ranges and can provide a dynamic 0.1

vibration signal in addition to the overall 4-20 0

0:00:00 12:00:00 24:00:00 36:00:00 48:00:00 60:00:00
mA output. The dynamic vibration signal is Time (hours)

available through a buffered output. Figure 3

shows an example of the dual outputs of CTC’s
Vibration Transmitter.

The 4 wires needed to monitor overall vibration

level using a transmitter are the Positive and
Negative Power Supply leads that will provide
power to the electronics, and the Positive and
Negative Output SIGNAL leads. These 2 pairs Figure 3
of leads are separate and distinct from one
another. Figure 4 shows typical wiring into a
PLC or Process controller with analog input
module.

A 2 conductor cable with a Plug (F) type BNC

Connector can be used to monitor the dynamic
vibration signal coming out of the BNC Jack on
the Transmitter.

Figure 4

Transmitter
Sensor 4 – 20 mA
Input IN + Measurement
+ Electronics
+ Output
- IN -
- + -

PLC Input Module

- +
Dynamic or Process
Power Signal Output Controller
Supply